Baked Spaghetti Squash & Cheese

November 13, 2018 Amanda Plott

It’s time to get cheesy! Cheese is, and always has been, my achilles’ heal. If there was one food that I could never manage to give up for just about any reason, it would be cheese. I even have a collection of recipes that is strictly devoted to cheesy eats and treats. Yep. My love for cheese goes far.

I’ve made healthier versions of actual ‘macaroni’ and cheese before, but I wanted to try something a little different since I had a giant spaghetti squash on hand that needed to be used up! This Baked Spaghetti Squash & Cheese is legit. Just because there’s no noodles in there, doesn’t mean it doesn’t fit the bill…

Rustica Salad

October 30, 2018 Amanda Plott

Well, I guess I spoke too soon about the weather cooling off. It’s been cooler, yes… but we’ve still gotten well up into the 80’s for a couple of days this week. It’s been nice for the most part, crips mornings, warm days, and cool evenings to follow. And while I’m completely set on Fall and Winter meals now, I still needed to toss in a light salad into the mix this week.

I’m calling this the ‘rustica salad’ because that’s the name of the salad that I got the idea for this one from. Of course, I had to put my own spin on it with a homemade dressing and plenty of toppings. The homemade Skinny Balsamic Vinaigrette is one of my favorites. I make a double or triple batch of it up at a time and keep it on hand in the fridge quite often…

Fall Breakfast Quinoa Bowl

October 17, 2018 Amanda Plott

It’s been unusually cold here in Austin, Texas lately. Generally speaking, we don’t get the first ‘cooler’ bits of weather until Halloween. But, this year we’ve already been in the 40’s - which is completely fine with me. I love Fall weather and I am always more than thrilled to get anything below 80 in October. It means that I get to use my oven and stove again without regret!

With it being cooler, overcast, and raining off and on, I thought it was high time for a nice warm hearty breakfast. And that’s exactly what this Fall power bowl is all about! I loaded this breakfast bowl up with plenty of good stuff. Quinoa, fruit, nuts, seeds, and just a touch of cinnamon to add further to the warmth of the flavors…

Roasted Tomato Soup

October 15, 2018 Amanda Plott

There is one thing for sure, no one is ever too old to enjoy tomato soup! One of my best memories growing up, had to have been the simple and easy dinner my mom would make on cold Fall or winter days… and that was a grilled cheese and tomato soup. Of course, even though you won’t grow out of tomato soup, your tastes do change. So today, I’ve elevated the classic and my favorite.

I’ve made plenty of tomato soup in the past, but I saw a rather ingenious hack not so long ago about making it by easily and with fresh tomatoes! No other cooking is involved other than that! Roasting the tomatoes also gives a smoky depth of flavor, that you otherwise wouldn’t have too…

Sailor Stew

October 7, 2018 Amanda Plott

I’ve made this stew a couple of times before, and mostly just for testing purposes. Sometimes it takes more than one run to get these things just right. But, I can honestly say that I haven’t minded the process with this one!

The first time I made it, I did so in the Instant Pot. It turned out well enough, but I really wanted this to be a stew that everyone could cook. Not just those with a pressure cooker. I also ended up adding in some potatoes and carrots to make this a more veggie-ful dish. Those veggies, along with the beans in there, really makes this a hearty meal all on it’s own…

Chicken & Roasted Poblano Pumpkin Soup

September 26, 2018 Amanda Plott

Tis’ the season, pumpkin season! It’s officially Autumn now, which means… pumpkins galore. Hopefully, my little family will be taking out yearly venture out to the pumpkin patch farm here soon enough. That’s usually where we go to pick out our pumpkins and enjoy a local farm along with all it has to offer.

To celebrate, and bring Fall in I decided to make a soup. Soup is basically a hug in a bowl, so consider this Chicken & Roasted Poblano Pumpkin Soup a nice WARM hug in a bowl. The heat of the poblano peppers and the warmth of the pumpkin and cinnamon really work well together to make one perfectly Fall inspired meal…